New Obstacles, New Hopes

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Messages
3,258
Hello my friends.

By now some of you will have gotten your new tappers. For that I thank you. It's been a real struggle to keep things running I can tell you that. After being a mechanic and machinist most of my life, it always amazed me, and still does - how something could just up and break - but it does. I've been nursiing the old Harbor Fright bandsaw for weeks now, trying to keep a motor on it running, and jury-rigging ANYTHING up to it to keep that saw blade running. Without it, I am dead.

My last and final attempt to prolong the life of the old girl was to hook up an old Baldor 3/4hp DC motor and driver to it. That did work for a little while, but read on...

In my old job, I changed many a motor and controller. I'd sometimes change both the motor and controller and save the old components. Many times the old motor just needed some cleaning and replace the brushes. Instead of trashing them, I took them home. Wouldn't you think I would have a motor to fit that old saw? No way could I find anything that would at least sort of work. I've had four motors on it and they all have either burnt out from over work, or old age. This dc motor was no exception. It sparked and zapped and blasted a shot of smoke and sparks out of the wire-hole that leads into the windings. I took it apart, and the lead wires had frayed and caused a short. So much for that.

Well the final straw have arrived and as much as I loathe the idea, I must buy another HF saw. I'll order one today. I guess it'll take me a couple hours to tweek it up, and mount it on the good base I made for the old one. I'll also need to run the coolant lines on it.

The good news is that I'm still happily self-employed! :eek:
 
Keep on rolling Brother. Any day above ground is a good day in my book and being self employed is just icing on the cake !

As hot as the motor gets on my HF , I wonder how long it's going to last. Oh well, it's all part of the wonder of knifemaking :)
 
Addendum:

My first time calling in an order to Harbor Freight, and I have to say I was scared to death. The salesperson was polite, friendly and articulate. She tried to sell me magazine subscriptions, service plans, tool club memberships, and some kind of other vip club plan. All required "a small fee" tacked onto my credit card.

I calmly let her do her thing, and just refused or said I wasn't interested when asked. She had me online for about ten minuutes! Insane. This world is insane I tell ya! :eek:
 
Hey Jeff,
Ya gotta spend money to make money. Somewhere along the way ya hope that the stuff you spend the money on to make money actually helps you earn a living.

Speaking of which, just received the tapper(s) you made. tried it/them using an 0-80 on Ti...piece of cake.
MAinly ordered your tapper because I was blowing through the tapped 0-80 threads when using a Procunier auto tapper on un-heat-treated 0.040" thick 416 stainless which I mill out for the slipjoints I make.
Your tapper is A-! for that work! Top -notch quality made piece of equipment!
I am very happy to own and use your tapper!
 
you don't happen to have a good gear box do you
my stocksaw/bandsaw toasted...that's 3 so far on the forum in a short time..
things happen in three's but I thought it was to be to the one person?? :confused:
 
Dan Gray said:
you don't happen to have a good gear box do you
my stocksaw/bandsaw toasted...that's 3 so far on the forum in a short time..
things happen in three's but I thought it was to be to the one person?? :confused:

The gearbox is still good. Let me get this new saw, and see if I need to use anything off the old one, then the gearbox is yours if you want it, Dan.
 
jhiggins said:
The gearbox is still good. Let me get this new saw, and see if I need to use anything off the old one, then the gearbox is yours if you want it, Dan.

jeff does it have a 7/8" output shaft? :confused:
 
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